35 of the
1,249 complaints filed about the Volkswagen Routan
are about the body and structure —
3% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2009.
The brackets that hold the automatic door wires brake continuously. Then the wire gets pinched in the door and it causes a large amount of electrical problems. The abs, esp bad, brake, and traction control lights come on when the wire gets pinched. These doors were made very poorly and should have been looked over before this vehicle was made.
NHTSA complaint #11425987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVERS SIDE SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. I'VE TRIED ALL KINDS OF WAYS TO OPEN IT AND IT WILL NOT BUDGE. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING, CAR SHUT OFF WITH NO WARNING.
NHTSA complaint #11323276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VAN RANDOMLY GOES TO 3RD ON THE HIGHWAY. GOING TO NEUTRAL AND BACK TO DRIVE CORRECTS THE ISSUE. VAN WILL NOT START/CRANK RANDOMLY. VAN TURNS OFF ON THE HIGHWAY RANDOMLY. RANDOM "ENTER SECURITY CODE" ON THE NAV SYSTEM. 129K MILES ON IT. CHRYSLER RECALLED CARAVAN'S AND THE TOWN AND COUNTRY FOR THESE SAME ISSUES. THE TIPM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. FILING A COMPLAINT WITH CORPORATE VW TO HAVE THEM CORRECT THIS MASSIVE SAFETY ISSUE AS CHRYSLER HAS DONE. HTTP://WWW.CHRYSLERPROBLEMS.COM/TIPM/
NHTSA complaint #11245265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING PASSENGER DOOR IS STUCK IN LOCKED POSITION. UNABLE TO OPEN DOOR MANUALLY OR WITH REMOTE. PROBLEM SHOWED UP AROUND 90,000 MILES, NO INDICATION OF A CAUSE.
NHTSA complaint #11209559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 40 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN BEING OPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HILEY VOLKSWAGEN OF ARLINGTON (1461 E INTERSTATE 20, ARLINGTON, TX 76018, (817) 575-6000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DOOR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY; HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
NHTSA complaint #11132167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GURLEY LEEP MOTORWERKS (4004 GRAPE RD, MISHAWAKA, IN 46545) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOCK SWITCH AND LOCKING ROD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE DOOR LATCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT LATER THE POWER LOCKS ON THE SAME DOOR FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO GURLEY LEEP MOTORWERKS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CABLE GUIDE WIRE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
NHTSA complaint #11000384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HAS SEVERE CORROSION ON THE BOTTOM. THIS WAS NOT NOTICED UNTIL AFTER GOING THRU A CAR WASH. IT IS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. VW OFFERS A 5 YEAR 100,000 CORROSION WARRANTY BUT MY IN-SERVICE DATE HAS EXPIRED AND THEY WILL NOT WORK WITH ME AT ALL. THIS IS A DEFAULT IN THE DESIGN OF THE DOOR AND I HAVE FOUND SIMILAR CASES FOR THE VW ROUTAN ON THE INTERNET. THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR HAD THIS PART OF THE VEHICLE REPAINTED FOR ANY REASON. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A 5 YEAR OLD VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10870670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V396000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPECTED DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 02/05/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO START.
NHTSA complaint #10639933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR DID NOT LOCK IN OPEN POSITION. INSTEAD, IT OPENED ALMOST ALL THE WAY AND THEN IMMEDIATELY BEGAN CLOSING AGAIN. I WAS ALREADY REACHING INTO THE VAN AT THAT POINT AND HAD TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY QUICKLY AFTER APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE DOOR TO KEEP IT FROM CLOSING ON ME DIDN'T WORK. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON 3 OTHER OCCASIONS. VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A VW DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY. THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE BUT STATED IT WAS A KNOWN GLITCH. IT TOOK A LOT OF FORCE FROM ME AS AN ADULT TO TRY TO STOP THE DOOR FROM CLOSING. WE HAVE 3 CHILDREN THAT RIDE REGULARLY IN OUR VAN. "KNOWN GLITCH" IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10627019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I'VE HAD THE VW ROUTAN SINCE 2010 - PURCHASED IT WITH 6,000 MILES ON IT. IT'S A SEL SO IT'S AUTO-EVERYTHING. IN THE PAST 12-16 MONTHS BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT PASSENGER AUTO DOORS STOPPED WORKING DUE TO A WIRING ISSUE. (2 SEPARATE INCIDENTS; $300 EACH REPAIR). TODAY, MY LEFT PASSENGER AUTO DOOR STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. THE VEHICLE SEES NORMAL USAGE AND HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10596874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER SLIDING DOORS ACTUATE ON OWN, WITHOUT WARNING, BOTH OPEN AND CLOSE WITH NO REGARD TO HUMANS OR OBJECT IN THE PATH. DOOR HANDLES CHROME DELAMINATION CAUSING SEVERE CUTS. POWER THIRD ROW SEATING MOTOR/FRAME FAILURE CAUSING SEATS MOUNTING POINTS TO BE UNSECURED. DEALER AND VW OF AMERICA UNWILLING TO CORRECT SAFETY ISSUES WITHOUT LARGE FINANCIAL COMPENSATION.
NHTSA complaint #10584240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SLIDING DOOR LOCKS MAKING VERY LOUD VIBRATING NOISE WHEN LOCKED AND FIT THE DESCRIPTION OF RECALL 10V252000 BY VW FOR 2009 ROUTANS MADE IN WINDSOR CANADA DURING THE SECOND HALF OF 2008. SAYS THAT CAR COULD CATCH FIRE BUT VW SAUS THAT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED SOME HOW.
NHTSA complaint #10573422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
ON 1/7/13 WE WERE SIMPLY TRYING TO OPEN THE REAR POWER LIFT GATE USING THE REMOTE AND OVERHEAD BUTTON TO NO AVAIL. EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED TO FIND OUT THAT THE REAR DECK LID LIFT GATE DRIVE UNIT CHAIN (PART#51528) BROKE THUS CAUSING THE POWER LIFT GATE OF OUR ROUTAN SE TO BE INOPERABLE. AFTER 3YRS AND BARELY 7 MONTHS OF NORMAL USE, WE ARE APPALLED THAT THIS CHAIN FOR THE POWER LIFT GATE WOULD SUDDENLY BREAK FOR NO LOGICAL REASON. WHAT IS MORE SHOCKING, THE PRICE FOR THIS PART IS $1,100 EXCLUDING LABOR. THIS IS THE QUOTE THAT WAS GIVEN TODAY BY KING VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE DEPARTMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10559811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BOUGHT THE VAN IN FEBRUARY 2012 SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 11 TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION,ROTORS,AND MY PASSENGER SLIDING DOORS THEY OPEN AUTOMATICALLY. NOW ITS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE AND WE BOUGHT EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THIS PART THE PLASTIC Y PART THAT CONTEXTS TWO HOSES THEY SAY ISN'T COVERED AND WANTS US TO PAY 450$ TO DO IT..THE VAN HAS 38,035 MILES WE BOUGHT IT WITH 18,563 MILES HOW CAN THIS VEHICLE HAVE THIS MANY PROBLEMS? MY POWER DOORS I BELIEVE IF THEY OPEN WHEN YOUR PUMPING GAS ISN'T RIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #10554579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE MY 3 YEAR OLD WAS ENTERING THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE SIDE SLIDING DOOR, SHE PRESSED THE BUTTON TO CLOSE THE DOOR. WHILE THE DOOR WAS CLOSING, SHE SLIPPED GETTING HER ANKLE/FOOT TRAPPED BETWEEN THE DOOR JAM AND DOOR BUT OVER THE BRACKET ATTACHING THE FRONT OF THE DOOR. THE DOOR CONTINUED TO CLOSE UNTIL IT JAMMED, SHE FELL OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WHILE STILL BEING TRAPPED. WE HAD TO PUSH ON THE DOOR TO TRY TO SLOWLY OPEN IT TO ATTEMPT TO FREE HER. AFTER PICKING HER UP AND REACHING UNDER THE DOOR TO MOVE HER FOOT WE WERE ABLE TO FREE HER. THE ENTIRE TIME WE WERE TRYING TO FREE MY DAUGHTER THE DOOR KEPT MAKING A CLICKING NOISE.
NHTSA complaint #10553291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY SON GOT IN HIS SEAT IN THE VAN AND I GOT IN DRIVERS SEAT I PUSHED POWER DOOR BUTTON ON CEILING AND HEARD DOOR CLOSING I THOUGHT IT CLOSED ALL THE WAY BUT HAD POWER FAILURE AND STOPPED HALFWAY. I STARTED VAN AND STARTED TO GO, THERE WAS NO ALARM OR ANYTHING TO INFORM ME HIS DOOR WAS STILL HALF OPEN. LUCKILY MY SON IS 5 AND TOLD ME HIS DOOR WAS OPEN SO I STOPPED AND BUTTON DID NOTHING I GOT OUT AND BUTTON ON INSIDE OF HIS DOOR DID NOTHING I THAN MANUALLY CLOSED DOOR. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE IF A CHILD WASN'T BUCKLED OR UNBUCKLED THEMSELVES THEY COULD FALL OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10545628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SIDE SLIDING DOORS WOULD OPEN INDEPENDENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE DOOR MOTOR FAILED AND WOULD REQUIRE REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE IMMEDIATELY RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND A PERCENTAGE OFF THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,923.
NHTSA complaint #10501259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A FEW CONCERNS ABOUT AN ACCIDENT MY WIFE WAS IN ON 12/06/2012. SHE WAS STRUCK HEAD ON BY ANOTHER DRIVER. SHE HAD THREE CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THEY WERE ON A HIGHWAY AND THEY WERE GOING 55MPH AND THE DRIVER THAT HIT THEM HEAD ON WAS GOING AROUND 20MPH ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT. THERE WAS $10,000 DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE ROUTAN. THE BODY SHOP SAYS THAT THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FRONT END. MY CONCERNS ARE THAT THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED IN THIS CRASH AND THAT MY WIFE AND CHILDREN COULD HAVE BEEN SPARED SOME EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL DISTRESS IF THEY HAD DEPLOYED. MY WIFE AND CHILDREN HAVE EXPRESSED MANY TIMES SINCE THE ACCIDENT THAT THEY DO NOT FEEL SAFE GETTING BACK INTO OR DRIVING THAT SAME VEHICLE AGAIN. MY QUESTIONS ARE: 1. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY? 2. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THE NHTSA?3. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT I NEED TO GET A LAWYER TO HANDLE? 4. IS THIS SOMETHING WHERE YOU WANT TO GET THE VEHICLE TO INSPECT IT YOURSELF FOR MALFUNCTIONS? 5. I AM SURE IT IS A COINCIDENT, BUT WE GOT AN EMAIL FROM VW AFTER WE TOLD THEM ALL THIS THAT THEY WERE GOING TO STOP MAKING THE ROUTAN AFTER THE NEXT YEAR. IT IS JUST SUSPICIOUS. IF YOU COULD PLEASE GIVE ME AN EMAIL OR CALL BACK PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT IN THIS MATTER. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10491849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH OUR VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN SINCE NEARLY DAY ONE. WHILE PARKED ON ANY TYPE OF SURFACE, (HILL, OR FLAT, DOWN HILL, OR UP HILL). ON OCCASION THE DOOR WHILE OPENING OR CLOSING WILL RE-CLOSE OR NOT OPEN. THIS HAS BEEN VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU HAVE A 4 YEAR OLD GET IN THE DOOR BEFORE DOOR HAS COME TO COMPLETE REST. THE CHILD GETS IN AS THE DOOR OPENS, AND THE DOOR CLOSES BACK ON HIM AS IT COULDN'T OPEN PROPERLY. WE HAVE HAD IT CHECKED BY VW ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT WAS NOT RESOLVED. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THESE DOORS.
NHTSA complaint #10488973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS FAILURES. THE REAR ROTORS BECAME WARPED NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS FOUR TIMES. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE ABRUPTLY WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOG LIGHT ASSEMBLY BECAME OVERHEATED AND BURNED SEVERAL TIMES. THE PLASTIC ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR BECAME FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO SUSTAIN LACERATIONS TO THE RIGHT HAND AND FINGERS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE TO THE DEALER WHERE ALL DEFECTIVE PARTS WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURES WOULD LIKELY RECUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,418 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,470.
NHTSA complaint #10483410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.